diff --git a/serde/src/ser/impls.rs b/serde/src/ser/impls.rs
index 7d01a384..cc20f9b6 100644
--- a/serde/src/ser/impls.rs
+++ b/serde/src/ser/impls.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use core::nonzero::{NonZero, Zeroable};
 
 use super::{
+    Error,
     Serialize,
     Serializer,
     SeqVisitor,
@@ -682,7 +683,10 @@ impl Serialize for path::Path {
     fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: &mut S) -> Result<(), S::Error>
         where S: Serializer,
     {
-        self.to_str().unwrap().serialize(serializer)
+        match self.to_str() {
+            Some(s) => s.serialize(serializer),
+            None => Err(Error::invalid_value("Path contains invalid UTF-8 characters")),
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -690,7 +694,7 @@ impl Serialize for path::PathBuf {
     fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: &mut S) -> Result<(), S::Error>
         where S: Serializer,
     {
-        self.to_str().unwrap().serialize(serializer)
+        self.as_path().serialize(serializer)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/serde/src/ser/mod.rs b/serde/src/ser/mod.rs
index 19dd8212..64bdbdfa 100644
--- a/serde/src/ser/mod.rs
+++ b/serde/src/ser/mod.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,25 @@
 //! Generic serialization framework.
 
+use std::error;
+
 pub mod impls;
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+/// `Error` is a trait that allows a `Serialize` to generically create a
+/// `Serializer` error.
+pub trait Error: Sized + error::Error {
+    /// Raised when there is general error when deserializing a type.
+    fn syntax(msg: &str) -> Self;
+
+    /// Raised when a `Serialize` was passed an incorrect value.
+    fn invalid_value(msg: &str) -> Self {
+        Error::syntax(msg)
+    }
+}
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
 /// A trait that describes a type that can be serialized by a `Serializer`.
 pub trait Serialize {
     /// Serializes this value into this serializer.
@@ -16,7 +32,7 @@ pub trait Serialize {
 /// A trait that describes a type that can serialize a stream of values into the underlying format.
 pub trait Serializer {
     /// The error type that can be returned if some error occurs during serialization.
-    type Error;
+    type Error: Error;
 
     /// Serializes a `bool` value.
     fn serialize_bool(&mut self, v: bool) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
diff --git a/serde_tests/tests/test_bytes.rs b/serde_tests/tests/test_bytes.rs
index 137d0098..785ff550 100644
--- a/serde_tests/tests/test_bytes.rs
+++ b/serde_tests/tests/test_bytes.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ use serde::bytes::{ByteBuf, Bytes};
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 struct Error;
 
+impl serde::ser::Error for Error {
+    fn syntax(_: &str) -> Error { Error }
+
+    fn invalid_value(_field: &str) -> Error { Error }
+}
+
 impl serde::de::Error for Error {
     fn syntax(_: &str) -> Error { Error }
 
diff --git a/serde_tests/tests/test_ser.rs b/serde_tests/tests/test_ser.rs
index 7fbae4e4..77bf3eb8 100644
--- a/serde_tests/tests/test_ser.rs
+++ b/serde_tests/tests/test_ser.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+use std::str;
 
 use num::FromPrimitive;
 use num::bigint::{BigInt, BigUint};
 use num::complex::Complex;
 use num::rational::Ratio;
 
-use token::Token;
+use token::{self, Token};
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
@@ -305,3 +306,22 @@ declare_ser_tests! {
         ],
     }
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn test_cannot_serialize_paths() {
+    let path = unsafe {
+        str::from_utf8_unchecked(b"Hello \xF0\x90\x80World")
+    };
+    token::assert_ser_tokens_error(
+        &Path::new(path),
+        &[Token::Str("Hello �World")],
+        token::Error::InvalidValue("Path contains invalid UTF-8 characters".to_owned()));
+
+    let mut path_buf = PathBuf::new();
+    path_buf.push(path);
+
+    token::assert_ser_tokens_error(
+        &path_buf,
+        &[Token::Str("Hello �World")],
+        token::Error::InvalidValue("Path contains invalid UTF-8 characters".to_owned()));
+}
diff --git a/serde_tests/tests/token.rs b/serde_tests/tests/token.rs
index 43502567..b1170511 100644
--- a/serde_tests/tests/token.rs
+++ b/serde_tests/tests/token.rs
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ impl<'a, I> Serializer<I>
         }
     }
 
-    fn visit_sequence<V>(&mut self, mut visitor: V) -> Result<(), ()>
+    fn visit_sequence<V>(&mut self, mut visitor: V) -> Result<(), Error>
         where V: ser::SeqVisitor
     {
         while let Some(()) = try!(visitor.visit(self)) { }
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ impl<'a, I> Serializer<I>
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn visit_mapping<V>(&mut self, mut visitor: V) -> Result<(), ()>
+    fn visit_mapping<V>(&mut self, mut visitor: V) -> Result<(), Error>
         where V: ser::MapVisitor
     {
         while let Some(()) = try!(visitor.visit(self)) { }
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ impl<'a, I> Serializer<I>
 impl<'a, I> ser::Serializer for Serializer<I>
     where I: Iterator<Item=&'a Token<'a>>,
 {
-    type Error = ();
+    type Error = Error;
 
-    fn serialize_unit(&mut self) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_unit(&mut self) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::Unit));
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -99,14 +99,14 @@ impl<'a, I> ser::Serializer for Serializer<I>
                                 name: &str,
                                 _variant_index: usize,
                                 variant: &str,
-                                value: T) -> Result<(), ()>
+                                value: T) -> Result<(), Error>
         where T: ser::Serialize,
     {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::EnumNewtype(name, variant)));
         value.serialize(self)
     }
 
-    fn serialize_unit_struct(&mut self, name: &str) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_unit_struct(&mut self, name: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::UnitStruct(name)));
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -114,93 +114,93 @@ impl<'a, I> ser::Serializer for Serializer<I>
     fn serialize_unit_variant(&mut self,
                           name: &str,
                           _variant_index: usize,
-                          variant: &str) -> Result<(), ()> {
+                          variant: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::EnumUnit(name, variant)));
 
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_bool(&mut self, v: bool) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_bool(&mut self, v: bool) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::Bool(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_isize(&mut self, v: isize) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_isize(&mut self, v: isize) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::Isize(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_i8(&mut self, v: i8) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_i8(&mut self, v: i8) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::I8(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_i16(&mut self, v: i16) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_i16(&mut self, v: i16) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::I16(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_i32(&mut self, v: i32) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_i32(&mut self, v: i32) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::I32(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_i64(&mut self, v: i64) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_i64(&mut self, v: i64) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::I64(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_usize(&mut self, v: usize) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_usize(&mut self, v: usize) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::Usize(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_u8(&mut self, v: u8) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_u8(&mut self, v: u8) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::U8(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_u16(&mut self, v: u16) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_u16(&mut self, v: u16) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::U16(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_u32(&mut self, v: u32) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_u32(&mut self, v: u32) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::U32(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_u64(&mut self, v: u64) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_u64(&mut self, v: u64) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::U64(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_f32(&mut self, v: f32) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_f32(&mut self, v: f32) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::F32(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_f64(&mut self, v: f64) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_f64(&mut self, v: f64) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::F64(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_char(&mut self, v: char) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_char(&mut self, v: char) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::Char(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_str(&mut self, v: &str) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_str(&mut self, v: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::Str(v)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_none(&mut self) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    fn serialize_none(&mut self) -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::Option(false)));
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn serialize_some<V>(&mut self, value: V) -> Result<(), ()>
+    fn serialize_some<V>(&mut self, value: V) -> Result<(), Error>
         where V: ser::Serialize,
     {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::Option(true)));
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ impl<'a, I> ser::Serializer for Serializer<I>
     }
 
 
-    fn serialize_seq<V>(&mut self, visitor: V) -> Result<(), ()>
+    fn serialize_seq<V>(&mut self, visitor: V) -> Result<(), Error>
         where V: ser::SeqVisitor
     {
         let len = visitor.len();
@@ -220,14 +220,14 @@ impl<'a, I> ser::Serializer for Serializer<I>
 
     fn serialize_newtype_struct<T>(&mut self,
                                name: &'static str,
-                               value: T) -> Result<(), ()>
+                               value: T) -> Result<(), Error>
         where T: ser::Serialize,
     {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::StructNewtype(name)));
         value.serialize(self)
     }
 
-    fn serialize_tuple_struct<V>(&mut self, name: &str, visitor: V) -> Result<(), ()>
+    fn serialize_tuple_struct<V>(&mut self, name: &str, visitor: V) -> Result<(), Error>
         where V: ser::SeqVisitor
     {
         let len = visitor.len();
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ impl<'a, I> ser::Serializer for Serializer<I>
                               name: &str,
                               _variant_index: usize,
                               variant: &str,
-                              visitor: V) -> Result<(), ()>
+                              visitor: V) -> Result<(), Error>
         where V: ser::SeqVisitor
     {
         let len = visitor.len();
@@ -251,14 +251,14 @@ impl<'a, I> ser::Serializer for Serializer<I>
         self.visit_sequence(visitor)
     }
 
-    fn serialize_seq_elt<T>(&mut self, value: T) -> Result<(), ()>
+    fn serialize_seq_elt<T>(&mut self, value: T) -> Result<(), Error>
         where T: ser::Serialize
     {
         assert_eq!(self.tokens.next(), Some(&Token::SeqSep));
         value.serialize(self)
     }
 
-    fn serialize_map<V>(&mut self, visitor: V) -> Result<(), ()>
+    fn serialize_map<V>(&mut self, visitor: V) -> Result<(), Error>
         where V: ser::MapVisitor
     {
         let len = visitor.len();
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ impl<'a, I> ser::Serializer for Serializer<I>
         self.visit_mapping(visitor)
     }
 
-    fn serialize_struct<V>(&mut self, name: &str, visitor: V) -> Result<(), ()>
+    fn serialize_struct<V>(&mut self, name: &str, visitor: V) -> Result<(), Error>
         where V: ser::MapVisitor
     {
         let len = visitor.len();
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ impl<'a, I> ser::Serializer for Serializer<I>
                                name: &str,
                                _variant_index: usize,
                                variant: &str,
-                               visitor: V) -> Result<(), ()>
+                               visitor: V) -> Result<(), Error>
         where V: ser::MapVisitor
     {
         let len = visitor.len();
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ impl<'a, I> ser::Serializer for Serializer<I>
         self.visit_mapping(visitor)
     }
 
-    fn serialize_map_elt<K, V>(&mut self, key: K, value: V) -> Result<(), ()>
+    fn serialize_map_elt<K, V>(&mut self, key: K, value: V) -> Result<(), Error>
         where K: ser::Serialize,
               V: ser::Serialize,
     {
@@ -316,10 +316,19 @@ pub enum Error {
     UnknownFieldError(String),
     MissingFieldError(&'static str),
     InvalidName(&'static str),
+    InvalidValue(String),
     UnexpectedToken(Token<'static>),
     ValueError(value::Error),
 }
 
+impl ser::Error for Error {
+    fn syntax(_: &str) -> Error { Error::SyntaxError }
+
+    fn invalid_value(msg: &str) -> Error {
+        Error::InvalidValue(msg.to_owned())
+    }
+}
+
 impl de::Error for Error {
     fn syntax(_: &str) -> Error { Error::SyntaxError }
 
@@ -789,6 +798,15 @@ pub fn assert_ser_tokens<T>(value: &T, tokens: &[Token])
     assert_eq!(ser.tokens.next(), None);
 }
 
+// Expect an error deserializing tokens into a T
+pub fn assert_ser_tokens_error<T>(value: &T, tokens: &[Token], error: Error)
+    where T: ser::Serialize + PartialEq + fmt::Debug,
+{
+    let mut ser = Serializer::new(tokens.iter());
+    let v: Result<(), Error> = ser::Serialize::serialize(value, &mut ser);
+    assert_eq!(v.as_ref(), Err(&error));
+}
+
 pub fn assert_de_tokens<T>(value: &T, tokens: Vec<Token<'static>>)
     where T: de::Deserialize + PartialEq + fmt::Debug,
 {
@@ -804,7 +822,7 @@ pub fn assert_de_tokens_error<T>(tokens: Vec<Token<'static>>, error: Error)
 {
     let mut de = Deserializer::new(tokens.into_iter());
     let v: Result<T, Error> = de::Deserialize::deserialize(&mut de);
-    assert_eq!(v.as_ref(), Err(&error));
+    assert_eq!(v, Err(error));
 }
 
 // Tests that the given token stream is ignorable when embedded in